1. Can you kindly provide the following number of visa applications submitted TYPE : Tier 1 (General) (including dependents) (Extension and new both) PEO Office : Application submitted ONLY at Croydon PEO SUBMITTED BY : In person applications, SUBMITTED BY APPLICANT HIMSELF, NOT VIA LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES (This does not include postal applications) STATUS : Total number of application submitted (whether successful/rejected/refused/invalid application, etc. is immaterial) TIME PERIOD : between Jan 2011 to May 2011

2. Can you kindly provide the same number as in (1) but which is SUBMITTED BY LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES (i.e. any one other than applicant himself).

3. Can you kindly also let us know if there is any difference in fees paid for applications via LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES versus applications submitted by APPLICANT HIMSELF? (E.g. for Tier 1 General extension application)

4. Can you also kindly provide information regarding UKBA policy for following: A. What is the rough number (or percentage) of caseworkers allocated to applications submitted in person versus submitted via legal representatives? This number from UKBA can be Tier 1(General) and Croydon PEO specific.

For questions 1 and 2, it would be fine if the data is not available up till May 2011, kindly provide whatever (maximum) data available since the start of this year.

I believe there are three ways to obtain an appointment at the Croydon PEO:- legal representative (email booking 1 or 2 weeks before)- personal: online booking (12 weeks before)- personal: phone booking (6 weeks before, but can change depending on any cancelled appointments)

The original requester wanted to know the success rates of using a solicitor, and the UKBA said that about twice as many caseworkers deal with personal appointments compared to solicitors' appointments.

I would like to know how whether it is easier to get an appointment if you have a legal representative as well. I know that approximately 30 legal reps appointments are offered per day.